### IN THE SUPREME COU RT OF TEN NESSEE

AT NASHVILL E

Sep te m be r 1, 2 01 1 S es si on at Kn ox vi ll e

MICH AEL LI ND v. BEAMAN DODGE , INC., d/b /a BEAMAN DODGE

CHRYSLE R JEE P E T A L



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, f i l e d a p r o d u c t s

l i a b i l i t y s u i t i n 2 0 0 7 a g a i n s t n o t o n l y t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r

, b u t a l s o t h e d e a l e r s h i p

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, t h e p l a i n t i f

f e n t e r e d a v o l u n t a r y n o n s u i t a s t o t h e s e l l e r a n d p r o c e e d e d o n l y a g a i n s t t h e

m a n u f a c t u r e r

. O v e r o n e y e a r a f t e r t h e o r d e r g r a n t i n g n o n s u i t

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, t h e p l a i n t i f f a g a i n s u e d t h e s e l l e r

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s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y i n t o r t

. T h e s e l l e r f i l e d a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s

, c o n t e n d i n g t h a t t h e s u i t w a s b a r r e d

b y t h e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s

. T h e t r i a l c o u r t d e n i e d t h e m o t i o n b u t g r a n t e d a n i n t e r l o c u t o r y

a p p e a l

. T h e C o u r t o f A p p e a l s d e n i e d t h e a p p e a l

. T h i s C o u r t g r a n t e d t h e s e l l e r ’ s a p p l i c a t i o n

f o r p e r m i s s i o n t o a p p e a l t o c o n s i d e r t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e s a v i n g s t a t u t e t o t h e s e u n i q u e

c i r c u m s t a n c e s

. W e h o l d t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f m a y p r o c e e d u n d e r t h e s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y c l a i m b e c a u s e

t h a t c a u s e o f a c t i o n d i d n o t a c c r u e u n t i l t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r w a s j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

.

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, a n

e x c e p t i o n t o t h e s t a t u t o r y r u l e p r o h i b i t i n g p r o d u c t s l i a b i l i t y s u i t s a g a i n s t s e l l e r s

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, t h e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s i s a b a r t o r e c o v e r y u n d e r t h a t t h e o r y

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T h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e t r i a l c o u r t i s

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, f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t

, B e a m a n D o d g e

, I n c

.M a r k P

. C h a l o s

, N a s h v i l l e

, T e n n e s s e e

, f o r t h e a p p e l l e e

, M i c h a e l L i n d

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O P I N I O N

O n M a r c h 2 8

, 2 0 0 6

, M i c h a e l L i n d ( t h e “ P l a i n t i f f ” ) w a s i n j u r e d a s h e s t e p p e d o u t o f

h i s 2 0 0 4 D o d g e R a m 2 5 0 0 t r u c k o n t o F o x H o l l o w R o a d i n C h r i s t i a n a

, T e n n e s s e e

, n e a r i t s

i n t e r s e c t i o n w i t h M a n c h e s t e r H i g h w a y

. A l m o s t a y e a r l a t e r

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, 2 0 0 7

, h e f i l e d s u i t

a g a i n s t t h e t r u c k ’ s m a n u f a c t u r e r

, D a i m l e r C h r y s l e r C o r p o r a t i o n ( “ C h r y s l e r ” )

, a n d t h e s e l l e r

, 1

B e a m a n D o d g e

, I n c

. , d / b / a B e a m a n D o d g e C h r y s l e r J e e p ( t h e “ D e f e n d a n t ” )

. T h e P l a i n t i f

f

a l l e g e d t h a t w h e n h e s t o p p e d h i s t r u c k o n a f l a t s u r f a c e a n d p l a c e d i t i n p a r k i n o r d e r t o g e t

a c l o s e r l o o k a t w h a t a p p e a r e d t o b e a s n a k e i n t h e r o a d w a y

, t h e t r u c k

, w i t h t h e e n g i n e s t i l l

e n g a g e d

, “ s e l f

- s h i f t e d ” i n t o r e v e r s e

, r u n n i n g o v e r h i s l e f t f o o t a n d a r m

, b r e a k i n g h i s a r m a n d

w r i s t

, t e a r i n g a r o t a t o r c u f f

, a n d d a m a g i n g m u s c l e s a n d l i g a m e n t s i n t h e a r m

. T h e P l a i n t i f f

a l l e g e d t h a t h i s t r u c k h a d “ c o n s i s t e n t l y e x p e r i e n c e d p r o b l e m s w i t h [ i t s ] p a r k i n g s y s t e m

, a n d

t h a t h e h a d t a k e n t h e v e h i c l e f o r s e r v i c e o n s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s a n d t h e p r o b l e m w a s n o t

c o r r e c t e d

. ” I n h i s c o m p l a i n t

, t h e P l a i n t i f f a l l e g e d a s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y c l a i m

, c o n t e n d i n g t h a t t h e

t r u c k w a s “ d e f

e c t i v e o r u n r e a s o n a b l y d a n g e r o u s i n t h a t i t f a i l e d t o p r o p e r l y s e c u r e i n t h e

‘ p a r k ’ p o s i t i o n

, a n d t h e a l a r m i n d i c a t i n g d a n g e r d i d n o t p r o p e r l y f u n c t i o n

. ” H e a l s o a s s e r t e d

a n e g l i g e n c e

- b a s e d c l a i m

, p o i n t i n g o u t t h a t s h o r t l y a f t e r h i s a c c i d e n t

, h e h a d r e c e i v e d a

“ r e c a l l n o t i c e ” f

r o m C h r y s l e r r e g a r d i n g t h e p r o b l e m s w i t h t h e “ o u t

- o f

- p a r k ” a l a r m s y s t e m

,

a n d

, i n c o n s e q u e n c e

, a s s e r t e d t h a t b o t h C h r y s l e r a n d t h e D e f e n d a n t

, a c a r d e a l e r s h i p i n

N a s h v i l l e

, “ k n e w ” o r i n “ t h e e x e r c i s e o f r e a s o n a b l e c a r e s h o u l d h a v e k n o w n ” t h a t t h e v e h i c l e

w a s “ d e f e c t i v e o r u n r e a s o n a b l y d a n g e r o u s

. ” T h e P l a i n t i f f f u r t h e r a l l e g e d t h a t t h e n e g l i g e n c e

o f C h r y s l e r a n d t h e D e f e n d a n t p r o x i m a t e l y c a u s e d t h e a c c i d e n t

. C h r y s l e r

, w h i c h a n s w e r e d

t h e c o m p l a i n t i n t h e n a m e o f D a i m l e r C h r y s l e r C o m p a n y L L C

, d e n i e d l i a b i l i t y

, r e l y i n g u p o n

t h e s t a n d a r d s o u t l i n e d i n t h e T e n n e s s e e P r o d u c t s L i a b i l i t y A c t o f 1 9 7 8 ( t h e “ T P L A ” )

, T e n n

.

C o d e A n n

. § § 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 1 t o

- 1 0 8 ( 2 0 0 0 )

, a n d p l e d o t h e r d e f e n s e s t o t h e c l a i m

. T h e

D e f e n d a n t a l s o r e s p o n d e d t o t h e c o m p l a i n t

, d e n y i n g l i a b i l i t y a n d s p e c i f i c a l l y i n v o k i n g t h e 2

p r o t e c t i o n s p r o v i d e d s e l l e r s a s s e t o u t i n T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6

, a p a r t

o f t h e T P L A :

( a ) N o “ p r o d u c t l i a b i l i t y a c t i o n

, ” a s d e f i n e d i n § 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 2 ( 6 )

, s h a l l b e

c o m m e n c e d o r m a i n t a i n e d a g a i n s t a n y s e l l e r w h e n t h e p r o d u c t i s a c q u i r e d a n d

s o l d b y t h e s e l l e r

. . . u n d e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n w h i c h t h e s e l l e r i s a f f o r d e d n o

T his in it ia l s uit is ca se number 5 5121 in th e Rut her for d Cou nty Cir cui t Co urt

. 1

T he re cor d demonst ra te s tha t cou nse l f or the Def

end ant at the ti m e of the ans wer sen t a le tt er to 2

the n- cou nse l for the Pla int if f, ass er ti ng tha t the Def

end ant “was no t o n n o t i ce of any pro ble m wit h the

par king syste m unt il wel l af te r the re cal l not ic e” and tha t “r epa ir re cor ds do not sho w any re cor d of [t h e

Pla int if f] re que st ing any re pai r o f t he p ar king sy st em.”

-2-r e a s o n a b l e o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n s p e c t t h e p r o d u c t i n s u c h a m a n n e r w h i c h w o u l d

o r s h o u l d

, i n t h e e x e r c i s e o f r e a s o n a b l e c a r e

, r e v e a l t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e

d e f e c t i v e c o n d i t i o n

. T h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e f i r s t s e n t e n c e o f t h i s s u b s e c t i o n s h a l l

n o t a p p l y t o :

( 1 ) A c t i o n s b a s e d u p o n a b r e a c h o f w a r r a n t y

, e x p r e s s o r i m p l i e d

, a s d e f i n e d b y

t i t l e 4 7

, c h a p t e r 2 ; o r

( 2 ) A c t i o n s w h e r e t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r o f t h e p r o d u c t o r p a r t i n q u e s t i o n s h a l l n o t

b e s u b j e c t t o s e r v i c e o f p r o c e s s i n t h e s t a t e o f T e n n e s s e e a n d w h e r e s e r v i c e

c a n n o t b e s e c u r e d b y t h e l o n g

- a r m s t a t u t e s o f T e n n e s s e e ; o r

( 3 ) A c t i o n s w h e r e t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r h a s b e e n j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

.

( b ) N o “ p r o d u c t l i a b i l i t y a c t i o n

, ” a s d e f i n e d i n § 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 2 ( 6 )

, w h e n b a s e d o n

t h e d o c t r i n e o f s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y i n t o r t

, s h a l l b e c o m m e n c e d o r m a i n t a i n e d a g a i n s t

a n y s e l l e r o f a p r o d u c t w h i c h i s a l l e g e d t o c o n t a i n o r p o s s e s s a d e f e c t i v e

c o n d i t i o n u n r e a s o n a b l y d a n g e r o u s t o t h e b u y e r

, u s e r o r c o n s u m e r u n l e s s t h e

s e l l e r i s a l s o t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r o f t h e p r o d u c t o r t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r o f t h e p a r t

t h e r e o f c l a i m e d t o b e d e f e c t i v e

, o r u n l e s s t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r o f t h e p r o d u c t o r

p a r t i n q u e s t i o n s h a l l n o t b e s u b j e c t t o s e r v i c e o f p r o c e s s i n t h e s t a t e o f

T e n n e s s e e o r s e r v i c e c a n n o t b e s e c u r e d b y t h e l o n g

- a r m s t a t u t e s o f T e n n e s s e e

o r u n l e s s s u c h m a n u f

a c t u r e r h a s b e e n j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

. 3

T he d ef ini ti ons pr ovided by the T PLA i ncl ude th e f oll owin g: 3

. . . .

(2) “Def ect ive condi ti on” m ean s a con dit ion of a produ ct tha t ren der s it unsa fe for nor m al

or ant ic ipa ta ble han dli ng and c ons um pti on;

. . . .

(4) “M anu fa ct ure r” m ean s the des igner

, fa bri cat or, pro duc e r

, c o mpound er

, pro ces sor or

ass embler of any pr oduc t o r i ts componen t p ar ts ;

(5) “Pr oduc t” m ean s a ny tangib le obj ect or goods p rod uce d;

(6) “Pr oduc t li abi li ty act ion ” for pur pos es of thi s cha pte r inc lud es al l act ion s bro ught for or

on acc o u n t of per son al inj ury, dea th or pro per ty damag e cau sed by or re sul ti ng fr om the

m anu fa ct ure

, con st ruc ti on, des ign, for m ula

, pr ep ar at io n, as se m

bl y

, te st in g

, ser vice, war nin g,

(c ont inu ed.. .)

-3-T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( a )

– ( b ) ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d )

.

T h e P l a i n t i f

f e n t e r e d a v o l u n t a r y n o n s u i t a s t o t h e D e f e n d a n t o n D e c e m b e r 2 1

, 2 0 0 7

,

p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 4 1 o f t h e T e n n e s s e e R u l e s o f C i v i l P r o c e d u r e

, b u t c o n t i n u e d t h e l i t i g a t i o n

a g a i n s t C h r y s l e r

. W h e n

, h o w e v e r

, C h r y s l e r f i l e d a v o l u n t a r y b a n k r u p t c y p e t i t i o n o n A p r i l

3 0

, 2 0 0 9

, i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s B a n k r u p t c y C o u r t f o r t h e S o u t h e r n D i s t r i c t o f N e w Y o r k

, a n

a u t o m a t i c s t a y i s s u e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h s e c t i o n 3 6 2 o f t h e B a n k r u p t c y C o d e

. S e e g e n e r a l l y 4

1 1 U

. S

. C

. A

. § 3 6 2 ( W e s t 2 0 0 4 )

.

O n A u g u s t 1 7

, 2 0 0 9

, t h e P l a i n t i f f

, r e p r e s e n t e d b y n e w c o u n s e l

, a g a i n f i l e d s u i t a g a i n s t

t h e D e f e n d a n t b a s e d u p o n s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y a n d n e g l i g e n c e

. I n C o u n t O n e o f t h e c o m p l a i n t

, t h e 5

P l a i n t i f f a l l e g e d t h a t C h r y s l e r h a d b e e n j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

, a s s e r t i n g t h e

D e f e n d a n t ’ s l i a b i l i t y u n d e r b o t h T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( a ) ( 3 ) a n d ( b )

.

I n C o u n t O n e

, h e c l a i m e d t h a t t h e t r u c k s o l d t o h i m b y t h e D e f e n d a n t w a s “ d e f

e c t i v e a n d / o r

u n r e a s o n a b l y d a n g e r o u s ” b o t h “ i n d e s i g n o r f o r m a t i o n ” a n d “ d u e t o i n a d e q u a t e w a r n i n g s ”

(... con ti nue d) 3

ins tr uct ion

, m ar ketin g, pac kag ing or la bel ing of any pro duc t. “Pr oduc t li abi li ty act ion ”

inc lud es, but is not li m it ed to, al l act ion s base d upon the fol lowi ng the ori es: st ri ct li abi li ty

in tor t; negli gence; bre ach of war ra nty, exp re ss or implie d; bre ach of or fa il ure to dis cha rge

a dut y to war n or ins tr uct

, whet her negli gent, or inn oce nt; m is re pre sen ta ti on, con cea lment,

or nond is cl osu re

, whet her negli gent, or inn oce nt; or unde r any oth er sub st ant ive le gal the ory

in tor t o r c ont ra ct what soe ver;

(7) “Se ll er ” inc lud es a re ta il er

, whol esa le r, or dis tr ibu tor

, and m ean s any ind ividu al or ent it y

engaged in the bus ine ss of sel li ng a pro d u c t

, w h e t h e r s u ch sal e is for re sal e, or for use or

con sumpti on. “Se ll er ” al so inc lud es a le sso r or bai lor engaged in the bus ine ss of le asi ng or

bai lment o f a pr oduc t; and

(8) “Unr eas ona bly dan gerous ” m ean s that a produ ct is dan gerous to an e xte nt beyond t hat

whic h woul d be con te m

pla te d by the ord ina ry con sumer who pur cha ses it

, wit h the ord ina ry

knowled ge comm on to the comm uni ty as to it s char act er is ti cs, or tha t the pro duc t beca use

of it s dan gerous con dit ion woul d not be put on the m ar ket by a r e a s o n a bly pru den t

m anu fa c t u r er or sel le r, ass um ing tha t the m anu fa ct ure r or sel le r knew of it s dan gerous

con dit ion

.

T enn . Code Ann. § 29- 28- 102.

On J une 1, 2009

, the Bankrup tc y Cour t aut hor ized the sal e of C h r ysl er ’s ass et s to New Car Co 4

Acqui si ti on LLC. On August 5, 2009

, the Sec ond Cir cui t Cour t of Appea ls af fi rmed. I n re Chrysl er

, LLC,

576 F.3d 108 (2d Cir

. 2009 ), vacat ed as m oot

, 592 F.3d 370 (2d Cir

. 2010 ). Chrysl er ’s ins olvenc y is not at

is sue

.

T his ca se is number 5 9485 in th e Rut her for d Cou nty Cir cui t Co urt

.

5

-4-r e g a r d i n g t h e “ p a r k

- t o

- r e v e r s e d e f e c t

, ” w h i c h t h e P l a i n t i f

f c o n t e n d e d i n v o l v e d a d e l a y i n t h e 6

e n g a g e m e n t o f t h e r e v e r s e g e a r

, s u b j e c t i n g a d r i v e r w h o e x i t s t h e v e h i c l e w i t h t h e e n g i n e i n

o p e r a t i o n t o s u d d e n a n d u n e x p e c t e d b a c k w a r d m o v e m e n t

. I n C o u n t T w o

, t h e P l a i n t i f f

a l l e g e d n e g l i g e n c e

, c l a i m i n g t h a t t h e D e f e n d a n t f a i l e d t o e x e r c i s e o r d i n a r y c a r e i n t h e

i n s p e c t i o n

, m a r k e t i n g

, a d v e r t i s i n g

, a n d s a l e o f D o d g e R a m t r u c k s b y c o n t i n u i n g t o s e l l t h e m

e v e n t h o u g h t h e D e f

e n d a n t “ k n e w o r s h o u l d h a v e k n o w n t h a t [ t h e y ] c o n t a i n e d t h e

u n r e a s o n a b l y d a n g e r o u s p a r k

- t o

- r e v e r s e d e f e c t a n d w [ e r e ] d e f

e c t i v e

. ” I n r e s p o n s e

, t h e

D e f e n d a n t f i l e d a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s

, a r g u i n g t h a t t h e s u i t

, f i l e d m o r e t h a n o n e y e a r a f t e r t h e

v o l u n t a r y n o n s u i t t o t h e M a r c h 1 9

, 2 0 0 7 c o m p l a i n t

, w a s t i m e

- b a r r e d b y t h e a p p l i c a b l e r u l e

.

W h i l e d e n y i n g t h e D e f e n d a n t ’ s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s o n t h e b a s i s t h a t “ t h e l i m i t a t i o n

p e r i o d

. . . d i d n o t b e g i n t o r u n u n t i l t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r w a s a d

j u d i c a t e d b a n k r u p t

, ” t h e t r i a l

c o u r t g r a n t e d t h e D e f

e n d a n t ’ s a p p l i c a t i o n f

o r a n i n t e r l o c u t o r y a p p e a l b e c a u s e i t d e t e r m i n e d

t h a t a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w w o u l d “ p r e v e n t n e e d l e s s

, e x p e n s i v e a n d p r o t r a c t e d l i t i g a t i o n

. ” T e n n

.

R

. A p p

. P

. 9 ( a ) ( 2 )

. T h e C o u r t o f A p p e a l s d e n i e d i n t e r l o c u t o r y r e v i e w

. B e c a u s e t h e q u e s t i o n

o f w h e t h e r t h e o n e

- y e a r s a v i n g s t a t u t e u n d e r T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 8

- 1

- 1 0 5

a p p l i e s u n d e r t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s i s o n e o f f i r s t i m p r e s s i o n

, t h i s C o u r t g r a n t e d t h e

D e f e n d a n t ’ s a p p l i c a t i o n f

o r p e r m i s s i o n t o a p p e a l

.

S c o p e o f R e v i e w a n d S t a t u t o r y C o n s t r u c t i o n

T h e s c o p e o f r e v i e w a f t e r t h e g r a n t o r d e n i a l o f a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s i n v o l v e s a

q u e s t i o n o f l a w

. S e e T r a u

- M e d o f A m

. , I n c

. v

. A l l s t a t e I n s

. C o

. , 7 1 S

. W

. 3 d 6 9 1

, 6 9 6

- 9 7

( T e n n

. 2 0 0 2 )

. A m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 1 2

. 0 2 ( 6 ) o f t h e T e n n e s s e e R u l e s o f C i v i l

P r o c e d u r e s e e k s o n l y t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e p l e a d i n g s s t a t e a c l a i m u p o n w h i c h r e l i e f c a n

b e g r a n t e d

. S u c h a m o t i o n c h a l l e n g e s t h e l e g a l s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e c o m p l a i n t

, n o t t h e s t r e n g t h

o f t h e p l a i n t i f

f ’ s p r o o f

. S e e W e b b v

. N a s h v i l l e A r e a H a b i t a t f o r H u m a n i t y

, I n c

. , 3 4 6 S

. W

. 3 d

4 2 2

, 4 2 6 ( T e n n

. 2 0 1 1 )

. T h e m o t i o n a d m i t s t h e t r u t h o f a l l r e l e v a n t a n d m a t e r i a l a v e r m e n t s

c o n t a i n e d i n t h e c o m p l a i n t

, b u t a s s e r t s t h a t s u c h f a c t s d o n o t c o n s t i t u t e a c a u s e o f a c t i o n

. I d

. ;

s e e a l s o S t e i n v

. D a v i d s o n H o t e l C o

. , 9 4 5 S

. W

. 2 d 7 1 4

, 7 1 6 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 7 )

. I n c o n s i d e r i n g a

T he Nat ion al Highway T ra ff ic Saf et y A d mi n i s t ra ti on’ s V ehi cl e Rese ar ch and T est Cent er (t he 6

“V RT C”) is a fe der al re sea rc h fa ci li ty whic h con duc ts the te st ing of vehicl es in an ef for t to improve highway

saf et y. See V ehi cl e Rese ar ch & T est ing (V RT C), htt p:/ /www.nh ts a.gov/VRT C (l ast visit ed Sept

. 28, 2011 ).

T he Pla int if

f al le ged tha t the V RT C saf et y no ti ce t o t h e o w n e r s of 2003

- 2005 Dodge Ram pic k- up tr ucks

ind ic at ed tha t “[ t] est ing sho wed tha t the shi ft le ver cou ld be pla ced at numerous poi nts bet ween gated re verse

and gated par k tha t al lowe d [un exp ect ed re ar war d m ovem ent ] to occ ur bet ween 10 a n d 3 0 s e c onds af te r

re le asi ng the shi ft le ver.” U.S. Dept

. of T ra nsp

., Nat ’l Highway T ra ff ic Saf et y Adm in.

, V RT C

- DCD5084

(EA04

- 025)

, Unin te nde d Power ed Roll

- Away in Revers e Aft er Par king

– Dodge Ram Pic kup T ruc ks,

a va i la ble at htt p:/ /www- odi .nht sa. dot .gov /c ar s/ pro ble m s/ re cal ls /r esu lt s.c fm. (20 05)

. T he sol uti on to t h i s

pro ble m was to ins ta ll an “ou t o f p a r k” a l a r m, whic h sou nde d the the ft det er re nt syste m if an ope ra tor

at te m pte d t o ex it th e vehi cl e wi th the engine in ope ra ti on.

-5-m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s

, t h e C o u r t i s r e q u i r e d t o t a k e t h e r e l e v a n t a n d m a t e r i a l f a c t u a l a l l e g a t i o n s

i n t h e c o m p l a i n t a s t r u e a n d t o c o n s t r u e l i b e r a l l y a l l a l l e g a t i o n s i n f a v o r o f t h e p l a i n t i f

f

.

S t e i n

, 9 4 5 S

. W

. 2 d a t 7 1 6 ; s e e a l s o W e b b

, 3 4 6 S

. W

. 3 d a t 4 2 6 ( o b s e r v i n g t h a t “ T e n n e s s e e

f o l l o w s a l i b e r a l n o t i c e p l e a d i n g s t a n d a r d

, w h i c h r e c o g n i z e s t h a t t h e p r i m a r y p u r p o s e o f

p l e a d i n g s i s t o p r o v i d e n o t i c e o f t h e i s s u e s p r e s e n t e d t o t h e o p p o s i n g p a r t y a n d c o u r t ”

( c i t a t i o n o m i t t e d ) )

. A d d i t i o n a l l y

, t h i s C o u r t ’ s r e v i e w o f a t r i a l c o u r t ’ s d e t e r m i n a t i o n s o n

i s s u e s o f l a w i s d e n o v o

, w i t h o u t a n y p r e s u m p t i o n o f c o r r e c t n e s s

. F r y e v

. B l u e R i d g e

N e u r o s c i e n c e C t r

. , P

. C

. , 7 0 S

. W

. 3 d 7 1 0

, 7 1 2 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 2 ) ; B o w d e n v

. W a r d

, 2 7 S

. W

. 3 d 9 1 3

,

9 1 6 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 0 ) ; G a n z e v o o r t v

. R u s s e l l

, 9 4 9 S

. W

. 2 d 2 9 3

, 2 9 6 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 7 )

.

T h i s a p p e a l a l s o i n v o l v e s t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f l e g i s l a t i o n a n d t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e

T e n n e s s e e R u l e s o f C i v i l P r o c e d u r e

. T h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s t a t u t e s a n d p r o c e d u r a l r u l e s a r e

q u e s t i o n s o f l a w t h a t a r e r e v i e w e d d e n o v o w i t h o u t a n y p r e s u m p t i o n o f c o r r e c t n e s s

. I n r e

E s t a t e o f T a n n e r

, 2 9 5 S

. W

. 3 d 6 1 0

, 6 1 3 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 9 ) ; s e e a l s o C a r t e r v

. Q u a l i t y O u t d o o r

P r o d s

. , I n c

. , 3 0 3 S

. W

. 3 d 2 6 5

, 2 6 7 ( T e n n

. 2 0 1 0 ) ( c i t i n g P e r r i n v

. G a y l o r d E n t m ’ t C o

. , 1 2 0

S

. W

. 3 d 8 2 3

, 8 2 6 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 3 ) )

. W h e n d e a l i n g w i t h s t a t u t o r y i n t e r p r e t a t i o n

, w e l l

- d e f i n e d

p r e c e p t s a p p l y

. O u r p r i m a r y o b j e c t i v e i s t o c a r r y o u t l e g i s l a t i v e i n t e n t w i t h o u t b r o a d e n i n g

o r r e s t r i c t i n g t h e s t a t u t e b e y o n d i t s i n t e n d e d s c o p e

. H o u g h t o n v

. A r a m a r k E d u c

. R e s

. , I n c

. ,

9 0 S

. W

. 3 d 6 7 6

, 6 7 8 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 2 )

. I n c o n s t r u i n g l e g i s l a t i v e e n a c t m e n t s

, w e p r e s u m e t h a t

e v e r y w o r d i n a s t a t u t e h a s m e a n i n g a n d p u r p o s e a n d s h o u l d b e g i v e n f u l l e f f e c t i f t h e

o b v i o u s i n t e n t i o n o f t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y i s n o t v i o l a t e d b y s o d o i n g

. I n r e C

. K

. G

. , 1 7 3

S

. W

. 3 d 7 1 4

, 7 2 2 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 5 )

. W h e n a s t a t u t e i s c l e a r

, w e a p p l y t h e p l a i n m e a n i n g w i t h o u t

c o m p l i c a t i n g t h e t a s k

. E a s t m a n C h e m

. C o

. v

. J o h n s o n

, 1 5 1 S

. W

. 3 d 5 0 3

, 5 0 7 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 4 )

.

O u r o b l i g a t i o n i s s i m p l y t o e n f o r c e t h e w r i t t e n l a n g u a g e

. A b e l s e x r e l

. H u n t v

. G e n i e I n d u s

. ,

I n c

. , 2 0 2 S

. W

. 3 d 9 9

, 1 0 2 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 6 )

. I t i s o n l y w h e n a s t a t u t e i s a m b i g u o u s t h a t w e m a y

r e f e r e n c e t h e b r o a d e r s t a t u t o r y s c h e m e

, t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e l e g i s l a t i o n

, o r o t h e r s o u r c e s

. P a r k s

v

. T e n n

. M u n

. L e a g u e R i s k M g m t

. P o o l

, 9 7 4 S

. W

. 2 d 6 7 7

, 6 7 9 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 8 )

. E v e n t h o u g h

“ t h e r u l e s o f c i v i l p r o c e d u r e a r e n o t s t a t u t e s

, t h e s a m e r u l e s o f s t a t u t o r y c o n s t r u c t i o n a p p l y

. . . . ” T h o m a s v

. O l d f i e l d

, 2 7 9 S

. W

. 3 d 2 5 9

, 2 6 1 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 9 ) ( c i t i n g L a c y v

. C o x

, 1 5 2

S

. W

. 3 d 4 8 0

, 4 8 3 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 4 ) )

.

A n a l y s i s

I n i t i a l l y

, a v o l u n t a r y d i s m i s s a l i s g o v e r n e d b y R u l e 4 1 o f t h e T e n n e s s e e R u l e s o f C i v i l

P r o c e d u r e

, w h i c h p r o v i d e s t h a t “ [ a ] v o l u n t a r y n o n s u i t t o d i s m i s s a n a c t i o n w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e

m u s t b e f

o l l o w e d b y a n o r d e r o f

v o l u n t a r y d i s m i s s a l s i g n e d b y t h e c o u r t a n d e n t e r e d b y t h e

c l e r k

. T h e d a t e o f e n t r y o f t h e o r d e r w i l l g o v e r n t h e r u n n i n g o f p e r t i n e n t t i m e p e r i o d s

. ”

T e n n

. R

. C i v

. P

. 4 1

. 0 1 ( 3 )

. T h e 2 0 0 4 A d v i s o r y C o m m i s s i o n C o m m e n t s i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e o n e

y e a r s a v i n g s t a t u t e u n d e r T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 8

- 1

- 1 0 5 ( 2 0 0 0 ) b e g i n s w i t h

t h e f i l i n g o f t h e o r d e r g r a n t i n g n o n s u i t

. T h e s a v i n g s t a t u t e s p e c i f i c a l l y p r o v i d e s a s f

o l l o w s :

-6-I f t h e a c t i o n i s c o m m e n c e d w i t h i n t h e t i m e l i m i t e d b y a r u l e o r s t a t u t e o f

l i m i t a t i o n

, b u t t h e j u d g m e n t o r d e c r e e i s r e n d e r e d a g a i n s t t h e p l a i n t i f f u p o n a n y

g r o u n d n o t c o n c l u d i n g t h e p l a i n t i f f ’ s r i g h t o f a c t i o n

, o r w h e r e t h e j u d g m e n t o r

d e c r e e i s r e n d e r e d i n f a v o r o f t h e p l a i n t i f

f

, a n d i s a r r e s t e d

, o r r e v e r s e d o n

a p p e a l

, t h e p l a i n t i f

f

, o r t h e p l a i n t i f

f ’ s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a n d p r i v i e s

, a s t h e c a s e

m a y b e

, m a y

, f

r o m t i m e t o t i m e

, c o m m e n c e a n e w a c t i o n w i t h i n o n e ( 1 ) y e a r

a f t e r t h e r e v e r s a l o r a r r e s t

. . . .

T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 8

- 1

- 1 0 5 ( a )

.

T h e D e f e n d a n t c o n t e n d s t h a t t h i s s u i t

, f i l e d m o r e t h a n o n e y e a r a f t e r t h e o r d e r g r a n t i n g

t h e v o l u n t a r y n o n s u i t

, i s b a r r e d b y t h e o n e

- y e a r p e r i o d o f l i m i t a t i o n

. T h e P l a i n t i f f

, h o w e v e r

,

a r g u e s t h a t u n d e r t h e T P L A

, t h e c a u s e o f a c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e D e f e n d a n t d i d n o t a r i s e u n t i l t h e

e n t r y o f t h e o r d e r d e c l a r i n g t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r i n s o l v e n t

. T h e p r e c i s e i s s u e i s w h e t h e r

, b y t h e

t e r m s o f t h e T P L A

, t h e P l a i n t i f f m a y r e l y u p o n t h e d e c l a r a t i o n o f i n s o l v e n c y o f t h e

m a n u f a c t u r e r t o m a i n t a i n h i s c a u s e o f a c t i o n u n d e r t h e o r i e s o f e i t h e r s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y o r

n e g l i g e n c e a g a i n s t t h e D e f e n d a n t e v e n t h o u g h m o r e t h a n o n e y e a r h a s p a s s e d f r o m t h e e n t r y

o f a v o l u n t a r y n o n s u i t a g a i n s t t h e D e f e n d a n t

.

C o u n t O n e

– S t r i c t L i a b i l i t y

I n C o u n t O n e o f h i s 2 0 0 9 c o m p l a i n t

, t h e P l a i n t i f f m a d e a s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y c l a i m i n t o r t

a g a i n s t t h e D e f

e n d a n t

, a l l e g i n g t h a t t h e t r u c k w a s “ d e f e c t i v e a n d / o r u n r e a s o n a b l y d a n g e r o u s

i n d e s i g n o r f

o r m u l a t i o n ” a s w e l l a s “ d e f e c t i v e a n d / o r u n r e a s o n a b l y d a n g e r o u s d u e t o

i n a d e q u a t e w a r n i n g s

. ” O f i m p o r t a n c e

, t h e l a n g u a g e o f t h e T P L A p r o v i d e s t h a t t h e s e l l e r o f 7

a p r o d u c t “ c a n n o t b e h e l d t o s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y i n t o r t u n l e s s

, a s t o t h e s e l l e r

, o n e o r m o r e o f t h e

c o n d i t i o n s s e t f

o r t h i n T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( b )

. . . i s s a t i s f i e d

. ”

W i e l g u s v

. D o v e r I n d u s

. , I n c

. , 3 9 S

. W

. 3 d 1 2 4

, 1 2 9 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. 2 0 0 0 ) ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d )

.

A m o n g t h e e x c e p t i o n s t o t h e r u l e i s w h e n t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r i s j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

.

I d

.

I n B r a s w e l l v

. A C & S

, I n c

. , 1 0 5 S

. W

. 3 d 5 8 7 ( T e n n

. C t

. A p p

. 2 0 0 2 )

, a c a s e c i t e d b y

b o t h t h e P l a i n t i f

f a n d t h e D e f

e n d a n t

, B r a s w e l l s u e d a m a n u f a c t u r e r f o r i n j u r i e s s t e m m i n g

A cl ai m for st ri ct li abi li ty m ay be pro per ly al le ged bas ed upon the “f ai l[ ure ] to war n con sumers of 7

the dan gers of a par ti cul ar pro duc t at the ti m e of sal e.” Nye v. Bayer Crop sci enc e, I nc., 347 S.W .3d 686, 693

(T enn . 201 1) (i nte rna l q uot at ion m ar ks om it te d).

-7-f

r o m a s b e s t o s e x p o s u r e

. W e l l a f t e r t h e s t a t u t e o f

l i m i t a t i o n s h a d e l a p s e d

, t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r

w a s d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t a n d B r a s w e l l a m e n d e d t h e c o m p l a i n t t o a d d t h e s e l l e r a s a d e f e n d a n t

.

I d

. a t 5 8 7

- 8 8

. O u r C o u r t o f A p p e a l s

, c a l l e d u p o n t o c o n s t r u e t h e t e r m s o f T e n n e s s e e C o d e

A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( b )

, p r e s u m e d t h a t t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y w a s “ a w a r e

. . . t h e

m a n u f a c t u r e r ’ s a d

j u d i c a t i o n i n b a n k r u p t c y c o u l d o c c u r a f t e r t h e l i m i t a t i o n p e r i o d h a d

e x p i r e d

, ” a n d

, t h e r e f

o r e

, c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e i n t e n t o f t h e l e g i s l a t i o n w a s f o r t h e s t a t u t e o f

l i m i t a t i o n s f

o r s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y c l a i m s a s s e r t e d a g a i n s t s e l l e r s t o b e g i n a t t h e t i m e t h e

m a n u f a c t u r e r w a s a d

j u d i c a t e d i n s o l v e n t

. I d

. a t 5 8 9

- 9 0

. T h e c o u r t f u r t h e r o b s e r v e d t h a t

T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( b ) w a s d e s i g n e d “ t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e i n j u r e d

c o n s u m e r c o u l d m a i n t a i n a s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y a c t i o n a g a i n s t w h o m e v e r w a s m o s t l i k e l y t o

c o m p e n s a t e p l a i n t i f

f f o r h i s o r h e r i n

j u r i e s

. ” I d

. a t 5 8 9

.

T h e P l a i n t i f

f c i t e s B r a s w e l l f

o r t h e p r o p o s i t i o n t h a t t h e c a u s e o f a c t i o n i n s t r i c t

l i a b i l i t y d o e s n o t a c c r u e a g a i n s t a s e l l e r u n t i l t h e j u d i c i a l d e c l a r a t i o n o f t h e i n s o l v e n c y o f t h e

m a n u f a c t u r e r

. T h e D e f

e n d a n t p o i n t s o u t t h a t t h e h o l d i n g i n B r a s w e l l i s d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m

t h e c a s e b e f

o r e u s b e c a u s e B r a s w e l l d i d n o t i n v o l v e a p r i o r s u i t a g a i n s t t h e p r o d u c t ’ s s e l l e r

.

W h i l e m a k i n g t h e a r g u m e n t t h a t t h e o n e

- y e a r s a v i n g s t a t u t e s h o u l d a p p l y

, t h e D e f e n d a n t

c o n t e n d s t h a t b e c a u s e t h e P l a i n t i f f p r o p e r l y a l l e g e d t h a t i t k n e w o r s h o u l d h a v e k n o w n o f t h e

p r o d u c t d e f

e c t i n 2 0 0 7

, t h e 2 0 0 9 s u i t i s a l t o g e t h e r b a r r e d

. I n e s s e n c e

, t h e D e f e n d a n t a r g u e s

t h a t o n e c a u s e o f a c t i o n e x i s t s u n d e r t h e T P L A

– a p r o d u c t s l i a b i l i t y a c t i o n – a n d t h a t t h e r e

a r e m e r e l y m u l t i p l e t h e o r i e s o f r e c o v e r y t h a t c a n b e a s s e r t e d u n d e r t h e “ u m b r e l l a ” o f t h i s

a c t i o n

, a s a r t i c u l a t e d i n T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 2 ( 6 )

. B e c a u s e

, t h e

D e f e n d a n t c o n t e n d s

, t h e P l a i n t i f f p r e v i o u s l y a s s e r t e d a v a l i d c a u s e o f a c t i o n u n d e r t h e T P L A

,

a n d t h e t i m e t o r e i n s t a t e t h e s u i t h a s p a s s e d u n d e r b o t h t h e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s a n d t h e

s a v i n g s t a t u t e

, h e c o u l d n o t r e

- f i l e h i s “ p r o d u c t l i a b i l i t y a c t i o n ” b y c l a i m i n g t h a t a n a l t e r n a t e

t h e o r y o f r e c o v e r y c o n s t i t u t e s a n e w “ c a u s e o f a c t i o n

. ”

T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 2 ( 6 )

, w h i c h d e f i n e s “ p r o d u c t l i a b i l i t y

a c t i o n ” f o r p u r p o s e s o f t h e T P L A

, p r o v i d e s a s f o l l o w s :

“ P r o d u c t l i a b i l i t y a c t i o n ” f o r p u r p o s e s o f t h i s c h a p t e r i n c l u d e s a l l a c t i o n s

b r o u g h t f o r o r o n a c c o u n t o f p e r s o n a l i n j u r y

, d e a t h o r p r o p e r t y d a m a g e c a u s e d

b y o r r e s u l t i n g f

r o m t h e m a n u f

a c t u r e

, c o n s t r u c t i o n

, d e s i g n

, f o r m u l a

,

p r e p a r a t i o n

, a s s e m b l y

, t e s t i n g

, s e r v i c e

, w a r n i n g

, i n s t r u c t i o n

, m a r k e t i n g

,

p a c k a g i n g o r l a b e l i n g o f a n y p r o d u c t

. “ P r o d u c t l i a b i l i t y a c t i o n ” i n c l u d e s

, b u t

i s n o t l i m i t e d t o

, a l l a c t i o n s b a s e d u p o n t h e f o l l o w i n g t h e o r i e s : s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y

i n t o r t ; n e g l i g e n c e ; b r e a c h o f w a r r a n t y

, e x p r e s s o r i m p l i e d ; b r e a c h o f o r f a i l u r e

t o d i s c h a r g e a d u t y t o w a r n o r i n s t r u c t

, w h e t h e r n e g l i g e n t

, o r i n n o c e n t ;

m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n

, c o n c e a l m e n t

, o r n o n d i s c l o s u r e

, w h e t h e r n e g l i g e n t

, o r

i n n o c e n t ; o r u n d e r a n y o t h e r s u b s t a n t i v e l e g a l t h e o r y i n t o r t o r c o n t r a c t

-8-w h a t s o e v e r

.

T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 2 ( 6 )

. I f t h i s p r o v i s i o n w a s t h e o n l y o n e u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n

, t h i s

C o u r t m i g h t b e i n c l i n e d t o e n d o r s e t h e p o s i t i o n t a k e n b y t h e D e f e n d a n t

. “ I n i n t e r p r e t i n g

s t a t u t e s

, [ h o w e v e r

, ] w e a r e r e q u i r e d t o c o n s t r u e t h e m a s a w h o l e

, r e a d t h e m i n c o n j u n c t i o n

w i t h t h e i r s u r r o u n d i n g p a r t s

, a n d v i e w t h e m c o n s i s t e n t l y w i t h t h e l e g i s l a t i v e p u r p o s e

. ” S t a t e

v

. T u r n e r

, 9 1 3 S

. W

. 2 d 1 5 8

, 1 6 0 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 5 )

. I n c o n s e q u e n c e

, w e m u s t c o n s i d e r h o w t h i s

d e f i n i t i o n i s a f

f e c t e d b y t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e T P L A g o v e r n i n g t h e p o t e n t i a l l i a b i l i t y o f t h e

s e l l e r

.

S e l l e r l i a b i l i t y i s d e f i n e d i n t w o s e c t i o n s o f t h e T P L A

. T h e f i r s t s e c t i o n

, T e n n e s s e e 8

C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( a )

, r e f e r s t o “ ‘ p r o d u c t l i a b i l i t y a c t i o n [ s ] ’ a s d e f i n e d i n §

2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 2 ( 6 )

, ” a n d w o u l d a p p e a r

, a t f i r s t g l a n c e

, t o i n c l u d e s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y i n t o r t

. T e n n e s s e e

C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( b )

, h o w e v e r

, s p e c i f i c a l l y a p p l i e s t o a p r o d u c t l i a b i l i t y

a c t i o n “ b a s e d o n t h e d o c t r i n e o f s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y i n t o r t ” w h e r e i t i s a l l e g e d t h a t t h e “ p r o d u c t

. . . c o n t a i n [ s ] o r p o s s e s s [ e s ] a d e f e c t i v e c o n d i t i o n u n r e a s o n a b l y d a n g e r o u s t o t h e b u y e r

, u s e r

o r c o n s u m e r

. ” T h i s p r o v i s i o n t r a c k s k e y l a n g u a g e r e l a t i v e t o s t r i c t s e l l e r l i a b i l i t y a s i t i s

T his pro visio n was amended, ef fe ct ive Oct obe r 1, 2011

. See Act of J une 16, 2011

, ch. 510, §§ 12 8

& 24, 2011 T enn

. Pub. Act s 1221

, 1 2 3 3

- 34. T he amended st at ute sub st ant ia ll y si m pli fi es sel le r li abi li ty

unde r t he T PLA, pr ovidi ng as f oll ows:

No “pr oduc t li abi l i t y a ct ion ”, as def ine d in § 29- 28- 102( 6), sha ll be comm enc ed or

m ai nta ine d agai nst any se ll er , ot her th an t he manuf act ure r, u nle ss:

(1) T h e s e l le r exe rc is ed sub st ant ia l con tr ol over tha t asp ect of the des ign, te st ing,

m anu fa ct ure

, pac kag ing or la bel ing of th e pr oduc t t hat ca use d t he al le ged har m for whic h

re covery of

damages is sou ght;

(2) Alt er ed or m odi fi ed the pro duc t, and the al te ra ti on or m odi fi cat ion was a sub st ant ia l

fa ct or in cau si ng the har m fo r wh ic h r eco very of da m ages i s s ought;

(3) T he s el le r gave an e xpr ess war ra nty as def ine d by T it le 47, Chap te r 2 ;

(4) T he m anu fa ct ure r or dis tr ibu tor of the pro duc t or par t in que st ion is not sub j ect to ser vice

of pro ces s in the Sta te of T enn ess ee and the lon g- ar m st at ute s of T enn ess ee do not ser ve as

the bas is fo r o bta ini ng ser vice o f p roc ess ; o r

(5) T he manuf

act ure r h as bee n j udi ci al ly dec la re d i nso lvent

.

T enn . Code Ann. § 29- 28- 106 (Su pp. 2 011)

. Our ana lysis in thi s case , however, is limite d t o t he p re

- 2011

versi on o f t he s ta tut e.

-9-d e f

i n e d i n s e c t i o n 4 0 2 A o f t h e R e s t a t e m e n t ( S e c o n d )

, w h i c h h a d b e e n a d o p t e d b y T e n n e s s e e 9

c o u r t s p r i o r t o t h e e n a c t m e n t o f t h e T P L A

. S e e

, e

. g

. , O l n e y v

. B e a m a n B o t t l i n g C o

. , 4 1 8

S

. W

. 2 d 4 3 0

, 4 3 1 ( T e n n

. 1 9 6 7 )

. T h e o r i g i n a l v e r s i o n o f t h e l e g i s l a t i o n t h a t b e c a m e t h e T P L A

a b o l i s h e d s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y o f a s e l l e r a s c o n t e m p l a t e d b y s e c t i o n 4 0 2 A

. S e e

, e

. g

. , S

. J o u r n a l

,

9 0 t h G e n

. A s s e m b

. , 2 d S e s s

. 2 0 7 3 ( 1 9 7 8 ) ( a l l o w i n g s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y t o b e a s s e r t e d a g a i n s t a

s e l l e r o n l y i f i t w a s a l s o t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r o f t h e p r o d u c t )

. T h i s w h o l e s a l e a b r o g a t i o n

, h o w e v e r

, “ w a s m e t w i t h c o n s i d e r a b l e h o s t i l i t y b y n u m e r o u s m e m b e r s o f t h e T e n n e s s e e

S e n a t e

, ” S e a l s v

. S e a r s

, R o b u c k & C o

. , 6 8 8 F

. S u p p

. 1 2 5 2

, 1 2 5 4 ( E

. D

. T e n n

. 1 9 8 8 )

, a n d t h e

b i l l w a s e v e n t u a l l y a m e n d e d t o p r o v i d e f o r s t r i c t s e l l e r l i a b i l i t y u n d e r t h e l i m i t e d

c i r c u m s t a n c e s c u r r e n t l y c o n t a i n e d i n s u b s e c t i o n ( b )

. S e e i d

. ; s e e a l s o

, e

. g

. , S

. J o u r n a l

, 9 0 t h

G e n

. A s s e m b

. , 2 d S e s s

. 2 1 0 3 ( 1 9 7 8 ) ( a d o p t i n g a m e n d m e n t t o w h a t i s n o w s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

-

1 0 6 ( b ) p r o h i b i t i n g s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y c l a i m s a g a i n s t s e l l e r s u n l e s s t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r i s n o t s u b

j e c t

t o s e r v i c e o f p r o c e s s o r “ s u c h m a n u f a c t u r e r i s i n s o l v e n t ” )

.

Sec ti on 4 02A pr ovides as fo ll ows: 9

(1) One who sel ls any pro duc t in a def ect ive con dit ion unr eas ona bly dan gerous to the use r

or con sumer or to his pro per ty is sub j ect to li abi li ty for physic al har m the re by cau sed to the

ult imate u ser or con sumer, o r t o hi s pr ope rt y, if

(a ) t he s el le r i s e ngag ed i n t he b usi nes s of se ll ing su ch a pr oduc t, a nd

(b) it is exp ect ed to and doe s re ach the use r or con sumer wit hout sub st ant ia l cha nge

in the con dit ion in whi ch i t i s s old

. (2) T he r ule st at ed i n Sub sec ti on ( 1) app li es al tho ugh

(a ) the sel le r has exe rc is ed al l pos si ble car e in the pre par at ion and sal e of his

pro duc t, a nd

(b) the use r or con sumer has not bought the pro d u c t f rom or ent er ed int o any

con tr act ual re la ti on wi th the se ll er

.

Rest at ement ( Sec ond) of

T ort s § 402A ( 1965 ).

Wh il e sec ti on 29- 28- 106( b) re fe rs to, as doe s sec ti on 402A, a pro duc t con ta ini ng “ a def ect ive

con dit ion unr eas ona bly dan gerous ,” ano the r pro visio n of the T PLA st at es tha t a m anu fa ct ure r or sell er ca nn ot

be hel d li abl e for inj uri es cau sed by a pro duc t “un le ss the pro duc t is det er m ine d to be in a def ect ive con dit ion

or unr eas ona bly dan gerous at the ti m e it le ft the con tr ol of the m anu fa ct ure r or sel le r.” T enn

. Code Ann. §

29- 28- 105( a) (e m

pha si s add ed) ; see al so T enn

. Code Ann. § 29- 28- 103( a) (r ef er ri ng to li m it at ion s on act ion s

bas ed upon inj ury cau sed by a pro duc t in a “de fe ct ive or unr eas ona bly dan gerous con dit ion ”)

. Othe r cou rt s

have hel d tha t a pla int if

f nee d onl y pro ve tha t the pro duc t was ei the r def ect ive or in a con dit ion unr eas ona bly

dan gerous unde r the T PLA. See , e.g

., Roysdon v. R.J

. Reynold s T oba cco Co., 849 F.2d 230, 235 (6t h Cir.

1988 ); Wh al ey v. Rhee m Mf g. Co., 900 S.W .2d 2 96, 2 99 ( T enn . Ct. App. 1 995) . Bec aus e t he i ssu e i s no t

bef ore us, we nee d not det er m ine whet her a con fl ic t exi st s bet ween sec ti on 29- 28- 106( b) and the se pro visio ns

or what a pla int if

f m ust pro ve re gardi ng the pro duc t’ s con dit ion when see king to re cover unde r st ri ct li abi li ty

in tor t.

-10-I n l i g h t o f t h e s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e c h o s e n b y t h e l e g i s l a t u r e

, a s w e l l a s t h e h i s t o r y b e h i n d

t h i s p r o v i s i o n

, w e v i e w s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( b ) a s g o v e r n i n g t h o s e l i m i t e d i n s t a n c e s i n w h i c h

a s e l l e r m a y b e s u e d i n s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y i n t o r t

. A c c o r d i n g l y

, w e c o n c l u d e t h a t s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

-

1 0 6 ( a ) f i r s t a d d r e s s e s a d d i t i o n a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s u n d e r w h i c h a p r o d u c t s l i a b i l i t y a c t i o n i s

p r o h i b i t e d a g a i n s t t h e s e l l e r o f a p r o d u c t

, a n d s e c o n d

, b y i m p l i c a t i o n

, t h o s e i n s t a n c e s i n 1 0

w h i c h a p l a i n t i f

f m a y p u r s u e a c l a i m d i r e c t l y a g a i n s t t h e s e l l e r b e c a u s e t h e d e f e c t i v e p r o d u c t

w a s n o t s o l d i n a s e a l e d c o n t a i n e r a n d t h e s e l l e r w a s “ a f f o r d e d [ a ] r e a s o n a b l e o p p o r t u n i t y t o

i n s p e c t t h e p r o d u c t i n s u c h a m a n n e r w h i c h w o u l d o r s h o u l d

, i n t h e e x e r c i s e o f r e a s o n a b l e

c a r e

, r e v e a l t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e d e f e c t i v e c o n d i t i o n

. ” T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( a )

. 1 1

T h e s e a r e t h e t h e o r i e s o f l i a b i l i t y l i s t e d i n s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 2 ( 6 )

, o t h e r t h a n t h a t w h i c h i s

s p e c i f i c a l l y r e f e r e n c e d i n s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( b )

, s e e

, e

. g

. , W a s h i n g t o n v

. R o b e r t s o n C n t y

. , 2 9

S

. W

. 3 d 4 6 6

, 4 7 5 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 0 ) ( n o t i n g t h a t “ a s p e c i f i c s t a t u t o r y p r o v i s i o n

. . . w i l l c o n t r o l

o v e r a m o r e g e n e r a l s t a t u t o r y p r o v i s i o n ” )

, a n d t h a t w h i c h i s e x c l u d e d b y s u b s e c t i o n ( a ) i t s e l f

.

S e e T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( a ) ( 2 ) ( s t a t i n g t h a t t h e p r o h i b i t i o n a g a i n s t l i a b i l i t y

c o n t a i n e d i n s u b s e c t i o n ( a ) “ s h a l l n o t a p p l y t o

. . . [ a ] c t i o n s b a s e d u p o n a b r e a c h o f w a r r a n t y

,

e x p r e s s o r i m p l i e d ” )

. T h e s e t h e o r i e s i n c l u d e n e g l i g e n c e

, n e g l i g e n t o r i n n o c e n t b r e a c h o f o r

f a i l u r e t o d i s c h a r g e a d u t y t o w a r n o r i n s t r u c t

, n e g l i g e n t o r i n n o c e n t m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n

, 1 2

T his pro visio n of the T PLA is bas ed on the pre m is e tha t m ost sel le rs “ha ve li tt le or no knowled ge 1 0

of or con tr o l o ver whet her the pro duc ts the y sel l m ay be dan gerous ly def ect ive” and genera ll y “ha ve no

pra ct ic al way to te st pro duc ts to dis cover hid den dan gers.” 2 M. Stu ar t Ma dde n et al

., Ma dde n & Owen on

Pro duc ts Lia bil it y, § 19.1 (3d ed. 2000 ), avail abl e at MOPL 19:1 (W est la w) [her ei naf te r MOPL 19:1 ]. As

a resu lt , court s tra dit ion al ly hel d that a sel le r had no dut y to ins pec t or te st a pro duc t or war n consu m er s of

la te nt def ect s “ par ti cul ar ly . . . wh en t he r et ai l s el le r s er ves m er el y as a c ondu it of a prod uct tha t arr ives at

the re ta il er in a pre

- pac kag ed con dit ion ” and the re for e was s h i e l d ed fr om li abi li ty “f or negli gence when

sel li ng goods in the ir ori ginal

, sea le d con ta ine rs or pac kag es. ” I d. T his “gener al no- dut y to ins pec t, te st

, or

war n rul e has exc ept ion s in cas es wher e the re ta il sel le r knows or has re aso n to know of the dan ger, in whic h

si tua ti ons the sel le r has a duty of r eas ona ble ca re to te st , inspe ct , or war n.” I d.; cf . Gentr y v. Her she y Co.,

687 F. Supp

. 2d 711, 721 (M .D. T enn

. 2010 ) (s ta ti ng tha t sub sec ti on (a ) “was int end ed to pro te ct sel le rs fr om

li abi li ty ass oci at ed wit h la te nt def ect s pas sed to the m fr om the m anu fa ct ure r of the pro duc t, n ot to re li eve

the sel le r fr om al l li abi li ty to the con sumer when the sel le r cau ses or a l l o w s t h e p r o d uct to bec om e

adu lt er at ed” ). Subs ect ion (a ) m er el y cod if ie s thi s comm on la w doc tr ine

, oft en re fe rr ed to as the “ s e a l e dcon ta ine r” or “or igina l- pac kag e” doc tr ine or def ens e. S ee MOPL 19: 1.

We o b s e r ve tha t sec ti on 29- 28- 106( a) onl y re fe rs to “t he exi st enc e of the def ect ive con dit ion ,” 1 1

wher eas sec ti on 29- 28- 106( b) ref er s to “a de fe ct ive co ndi ti on u nre aso nab ly dan gerous .” T he legis la tur e’ s

use of dif fe re nt te rminol ogy to des cr ibe the nec ess ar y con dit ion of the pro duc t for pur pos es of sel le r li abi li ty

unde r t hes e t wo pr ovisi ons fu rt her demonst ra te s a di st inc ti on.

Wh il e li abi li ty bas ed upon an inn oce nt “br eac h of or fa il ure to dis cha rge a dut y to war n or ins tr uct ” 1 2

cou ld con cei vably be con st rue d as “st ri ct ,” st ri ct l i a b i l it y der ived fr om sec ti on 402A of the Rest at ement

(Se con d) o f T o r t s d oes not hin ge on the nat ure of the def end ant ’s con duc t; in oth er word s, “whe the r [t he

def end ant ] act ed int ent ion al ly, negli gentl y, or inn oce ntl y[] is not import ant on the is sue of his li abi li ty.”

(c ont inu ed.. .)

-11-c o n c e a l m e n t o r n o n d i s c l o s u r e

, “ o r a n y o t h e r s u b s t a n t i v e l e g a l t h e o r y i n t o r t o r c o n t r a c t 1 3

w h a t s o e v e r

. ”

A l t h o u g h

, u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n ( a )

, a p l a i n t i f f m a y s u e a s e l l e r d i r e c t l y u n d e r c e r t a i n

c i r c u m s t a n c e s

, a p l a i n t i f f m a y n o t s u e a s e l l e r i n s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n ( b ) u n l e s s

,

a s i s p e r t i n e n t t o t h i s c a s e

, t h e s e l l e r h a s b e e n j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

. T h e e f f e c t o f

t h e s e p r o v i s i o n s i s t o c r e a t e t w o c a u s e s o f a c t i o n u n d e r w h i c h a c l a i m a n t m a y s e e k r e l i e f

f r o m a s e l l e r o f a p r o d u c t

, e i t h e r u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s c o n t e m p l a t e d b y s u b s e c t i o n ( a )

,

w h i c h c o n t a i n v a r i o u s t h e o r i e s o f r e c o v e r y

, o r t h o s e c o n t e m p l a t e d u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n ( b )

,

w h i c h p e r t a i n o n l y t o s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y i n t o r t w h e r e t h e p r o d u c t i s a l l e g e d t o c o n t a i n a d e f e c t i v e

c o n d i t i o n u n r e a s o n a b l y d a n g e r o u s t o t h e b u y e r

, u s e r

, o r c o n s u m e r

.

F u r t h e r

, t h i s C o u r t

, w h i l e o b s e r v i n g t h a t “ t h e p h r a s e ‘ c a u s e o f a c t i o n ’ c a n

, a t t i m e s

, b e d i f f i c u l t t o d e f

i n e

, ” h a s h e l d t h a t “ a c o m m o n t h r e a d a m o n g t h e d e f i n i t i o n s

. . . i s t h a t a

‘ c a u s e o f a c t i o n ’ i s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a r i g h t o f o n e p a r t y t o s u e a n o t h e r

. ” S h e l b y C n t y

. H e a l t h

C a r e C o r p

. v

. N a t i o n w i d e M u t

. I n s

. C o

. , 3 2 5 S

. W

. 3 d 8 8

, 9 6 ( T e n n

. 2 0 1 0 ) ( c i t a t i o n o m i t t e d ) ;

s e e a l s o 1 A m

. J u r

. 2 d A c t i o n s § 1 ( 2 0 0 5 ) ( “ A l t h o u g h i t h a s b e e n s a i d t h a t t h e t e r m ‘ c a u s e

o f a c t i o n ’ h a s d i f

f e r e n t m e a n i n g s i n d i f

f e r e n t c o n t e x t s

, a ‘ c a u s e o f a c t i o n ’ g e n e r a l l y i s

u n d e r s t o o d a s a s e t o f f a c t s w h i c h g i v e s r i s e t o a r i g h t t o s e e k a r e m e d y

. ” )

. P u r s u a n t t o

T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( b )

, t h e r i g h t o f a c l a i m a n t t o a s s e r t a c l a i m f o r

s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y a g a i n s t a s e l l e r d o e s n o t a r i s e u n t i l t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r h a s b e e n j u d i c i a l l y

d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

. C f

. S e a l s

, 6 8 8 F

. S u p p

. a t 1 2 5 7 ( f i n d i n g “ i t

. . . c l e a r t h a t t h e 1 4

‘ c o m m e n c e d o r m a i n t a i n e d ’ l a n g u a g e [ c o n t a i n e d i n s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( b ) ] d o e s n o t m e a n t h a t

(... con ti nue d) 1 2

Wyatt v. Wi nne bago I ndus

., I nc., 566 S.W .2d 276, 279 (T enn

. C t

. A p p

. 1 9 7 7 ); acc ord Phi ll ips v. Cri cket

Lighte rs

, 841 A.2d 1000

, 1008 (Pa

. 2003 ) (ob ser ving tha t str ic t lia bil it y invol ves “ex amin[i ng] the pro duc t

it sel f, a nd s te rnl y esche w[i ng] con si der at ion s of th e r eas ona ble nes s of

th e [ def end ant ’s ] c ondu ct ”)

.

Again, li abi li ty bas ed upon an inno cen t m is re pre sen ta ti on, conc eal m ent , or nond is cl osu re cou ld 1 3

be con st rue d as “st ri ct .” However, li abi li ty unde r thi s the ory, whic h is bas ed o n sec ti on 402B of the

Rest at ement (Se con d) of T ort s, “i s en t i r el y dis ti nct fr om a Sec ti on 402A cl ai m ,” as li abi li ty is “no t

con dit ion [e d]

. . . on the pro duc t bei ng def ect ive or unr eas ona bly dan gerous .” Ladd by Ladd v. Honda Mo tor

Co., 939 S.W .2d 83, 97 (T enn

. Ct. App. 1996 ). I nst ead

, li abi li ty is bas ed upon tha t whic h is comm uni cat ed

to the pla int if

f and “do es not re qui re tha t the pro duc t con ta in a ‘de fe ct ’ unl ess the m anu fa ct ure r fa ls el y st at es

tha t t he p rod uct is fr ee the re of. ” Da vid G. Owen s, Pr oduc ts Lia bil it y Law § 3.4 (2 d ed . 200 8).

I n add it ion

, if the pro duc t was sol d in a sea le d con ta ine r and /or was acq uir ed and sol d by the sel le r 1 4

unde r c ir cumstan ces in whi ch t he sel le r had no re aso nab le oppo rt uni ty to ins pec t t he p rod uct suc h t hat , in

the exe rc is e of re aso nab le car e, the def ect ive con dit ion woul d be dis covere d, the m anu fa ct ure r’ s ins olvenc y

woul d al so al low a pla int if f to the n bri ng a cl ai m agains t the sel le r unde r any of the the ori es o f l i a b i l it y

m ent ion ed i n se ct ion 29- 28- 106( a)

.

-12-t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r m u s t b e i n s o l v e n t o n t h e f o r t u i t o u s d a t e t h a t t h e c o m p l a i n t i s f i l e d

. W h a t

i s i m p o r t a n t i s t h a t b e f

o r e a s e l l e r m a y b e s u b

j e c t e d t o l i a b i l i t y

, i t m u s t b e d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e

m a n u f a c t u r e r i s i n s o l v e n t ” )

. A n d w h i l e i t i s t r u e t h a t a t o r t c l a i m i s s a i d t o a c c r u e “ w h e n t h e

p l a i n t i f f k n o w s

, o r i n t h e e x e r c i s e o f r e a s o n a b l e c a r e a n d d i l i g e n c e s h o u l d k n o w

, t h a t a n

i n j u r y h a s b e e n s u s t a i n e d

, ” W y a t t v

. A

- B e s t

, C o

. , 9 1 0 S

. W

. 2 d 8 5 1

, 8 5 4 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 5 )

, w e

c a n n o t i g n o r e t h e f

a c t t h a t

, u n d e r t h e t e r m s o f t h e s t a t u t e

, a p l a i n t i f

f d o e s n o t h a v e t h e r i g h t

t o s u e a s e l l e r i n s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y u n t i l t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r i s j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

. I t

l o g i c a l l y f

o l l o w s t h a t t h e l i m i t a t i o n s p e r i o d a p p l i c a b l e t o a c a u s e o f a c t i o n d o e s n o t b e g i n

u n t i l t h e c a u s e o f a c t i o n i t s e l f a c c r u e s

. S e e 1 8 T e n n

. J u r

. L i m i t a t i o n o f A c t i o n s § 1 9 ( 2 0 0 5 )

( “ I t i s a g e n e r a l r u l e t h a t t h e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s b e g i n s t o r u n a s s o o n a s t h e r e i s a r i g h t o f

a c t i o n

. . . . ” ) ; i d

. § 2 0 ( “ T h e s t a t u t e s o f l i m i t a t i o n s d o n o t b e g i n t o r u n i n f a v o r o f o r a g a i n s t

a p a r t y u n t i l t h e a c c r u a l o f a r i g h t o f a c t i o n i n f a v o r o f o r a g a i n s t h i m

. ” ) ; s e e a l s o V a s o n v

.

N i c k e y

, 4 3 8 F

. 2 d 2 4 2

, 2 4 7 ( 6 t h C i r

. 1 9 7 1 ) ; S t a t e e x r e l

. C a r d i n v

. M c C l e l l a n

, 8 5 S

. W

. 2 6 7

,

2 7 0 ( T e n n

. 1 9 0 5 ) ( “ [ N ] o t i m e r u n s t o t h e p l a i n t i f f u n t i l h e h a s t h e r i g h t t o s u e [

. T ] h e s t a t u t e

o f l i m i t a t i o n [ s ] d o e s n o t b e g i n t o r u n u n t i l t h a t t i m e [

, a s i ] f t h e r u l e [ w e r e ] o t h e r w i s e

,

m e r i t o r i o u s a c t i o n s m i g h t b e b a r r e d b e f o r e t h e p l a i n t i f

f h a d t h e r i g h t t o b r i n g h i s s u i t

. T h i s

w o u l d w o r k g r o s s i n

j u s t i c e

. ” )

. A s t h e C o u r t o f A p p e a l s o b s e r v e d i n B r a s w e l l

, “ [ t ] o h o l d t h a t

t h e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s r a n b e f o r e t h e m a n u f

a c t u r e r w a s a d

j u d i c a t e d b a n k r u p t [ ] w o u l d

r e n d e r t h e s t a t u t e i n p a r t

, m e a n i n g l e s s

. ” 1 0 5 S

. W

. 3 d a t 5 9 0

. B e c a u s e w e p r e s u m e t h a t t h e

G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y d i d n o t i n t e n d t o e n a c t m e a n i n g l e s s o r u s e l e s s l e g i s l a t i o n

, T e x a s G a s

T r a n s m i s s i o n C o r p

. v

. A t k i n s

, 3 2 7 S

. W

. 2 d 3 0 5

, 3 0 7 ( T e n n

. 1 9 5 9 )

, i t i s o u r v i e w t h a t u n t i l t h e

j u d i c i a l d e c l a r a t i o n o f i n s o l v e n c y i s m a d e

, o r u n t i l o n e o f t h e o t h e r t w o e x c e p t i o n s c o n t a i n e d

i n T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( b ) i s m e t

, a c l a i m a n t h a s n o c a u s e o f a c t i o n

a g a i n s t a s e l l e r i n s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( b )

. 1 5

W h e n t h e P l a i n t i f

f i n i t i a l l y f

i l e d h i s s u i t i n 2 0 0 7

, t h e t r u c k ’ s m a n u f a c t u r e r

, C h r y s l e r

, h a d n o t y e t b e e n j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

. T h e P l a i n t i f f ’ s c a u s e o f a c t i o n i n s t r i c t

l i a b i l i t y a g a i n s t t h e D e f e n d a n t d i d n o t a c c r u e u n t i l t h i s d e c l a r a t i o n o c c u r r e d

. B e c a u s e t h e

P l a i n t i f f “ c o m m e n c e d ” h i s s u i t a g a i n s t t h e D e f e n d a n t b y f

i l i n g a c o m p l a i n t w i t h i n o n e y e a r

o f C h r y s l e r ’ s i n s o l v e n c y

, s e e T e n n

. R

. C i v

. P

. 3

, h i s s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y c l a i m a g a i n s t t h e 1 6

D e f e n d a n t w a s a s s e r t e d i n a t i m e l y m a n n e r

. 1 7

T his hol din g sho uld not be con st rue d to m ean tha t a ban krupt cy fi li ng is a j udi ci al dec la ra ti on of 1 5

ins olvenc y. See, e .g., Ny e, 347 S.W.3d at 693 (“[ A] debt or nee d not be i nso lvent to qua li fy for pr ote ct ion

unde r Ch apt er 11 o f t he Ba nkrupt cy Code.” ).

A ci vil act ion is “co m

m enc ed wit hin the m ean ing of any st at ute of li m it at ion s upon [t he] fi li ng of 1 6

a c om pla int ” wi th the cl er k of t he c our t. T enn . R. Ci v. P. 3.

As not ed by t h e P l a i n ti ff

, his st ri ct li abi li ty cl ai m is not for ecl ose d by the st at ute of re pos e 1 7

(c ont inu ed.. .)

-13-C o u n t T w o

– N e g l i g e n c e

U n d e r t h e T P L A

, a j u d i c i a l d e c l a r a t i o n o f t h e i n s o l v e n c y o f a p r o d u c t ’ s m a n u f a c t u r e r

a l l o w s a s u i t t o b e b r o u g h t a g a i n s t t h e s e l l e r n o t o n l y i n s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y u n d e r T e n n e s s e e C o d e

A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( b )

, b u t a l s o u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s s e t o u t i n T e n n e s s e e C o d e

A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( a )

. S u b s e c t i o n ( a ) p r o v i d e s t h a t a p r o d u c t s l i a b i l i t y a c t i o n s h a l l

n o t b e c o m m e n c e d o r m a i n t a i n e d a g a i n s t a s e l l e r w h e n ( 1 ) “ t h e p r o d u c t i s a c q u i r e d a n d s o l d

b y t h e s e l l e r i n a s e a l e d c o n t a i n e r a n d / o r ” ( 2 ) “ w h e n t h e p r o d u c t i s a c q u i r e d a n d s o l d b y t h e

s e l l e r u n d e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n w h i c h t h e s e l l e r i s a f f o r d e d n o r e a s o n a b l e o p p o r t u n i t y t o

i n s p e c t t h e p r o d u c t i n s u c h a m a n n e r w h i c h w o u l d o r s h o u l d

, i n t h e e x e r c i s e o f r e a s o n a b l e

c a r e

, r e v e a l t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e d e f e c t i v e c o n d i t i o n

. ” T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( a )

.

E v e n w h e n t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s a r e p r e s e n t

, h o w e v e r

, a s u i t m a y b e f i l e d a g a i n s t t h e s e l l e r

i f t h e m a n u f

a c t u r e r h a s b e e n j u d i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d i n s o l v e n t

. T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 9

- 2 8

-

1 0 6 ( a ) ( 3 )

. 1 8

O u r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e l a n g u a g e c o n t a i n e d i n s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( a ) i s t h a t a p r o d u c t

l i a b i l i t y a c t i o n

, o t h e r t h a n o n e b a s e d o n s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y a s c o n t e m p l a t e d i n s u b s e c t i o n ( b )

, c a n

b e m a i n t a i n e d a g a i n s t a s e l l e r i f t h e p r o d u c t i s n o t i n a s e a l e d c o n t a i n e r a n d t h e s e l l e r i s

a f f o r d e d a r e a s o n a b l e o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n s p e c t t h e p r o d u c t i n s u c h a w a y t h a t

, i n t h e e x e r c i s e

o f r e a s o n a b l e c a r e

, w o u l d r e v e a l t h e d e f e c t i v e c o n d i t i o n

. W e m u s t c o n s i d e r

, t h e r e f o r e

,

w h e t h e r t h e P l a i n t i f

f ’ s n e g l i g e n c e c o u n t i n t h e 2 0 0 9 c o m p l a i n t m a k e s s u c h a l l e g a t i o n s

.

A s p r e v i o u s l y n o t e d

, c o u r t s i n T e n n e s s e e m u s t l i b e r a l l y c o n s t r u e l i t i g a n t s ’ c o m p l a i n t s

.

S e e W e b b

, 3 4 6 S

. W

. 3 d a t 4 2 6

. I n C o u n t T w o o f t h e 2 0 0 9 c o m p l a i n t

, t h e P l a i n t i f f p l a i n l y

a s s e r t e d n e g l i g e n c e o n t h e p a r t o f t h e D e f e n d a n t

, c o n t e n d i n g t h a t t h e D e f e n d a n t b r e a c h e d i t s

“ d u t y t o e x e r c i s e r e a s o n a b l e c a r e t o p r o p e r l y i n s p e c t

, m a r k e t

, a d v e r t i s e

, a n d s e l l ” t h e t r u c k

.

T h e s e a l l e g a t i o n s s u g g e s t t h a t t h e D e f e n d a n t h a d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n s p e c t t h e t r u c k

, d i s c o v e r t h e d e f

e c t

, a n d w a r n t h e P l a i n t i f f o f i t s e x i s t e n c e

, y e t f

a i l e d t o d o s o

. T h e c a u s e o f

a c t i o n a s s e r t e d i n C o u n t T w o

, b a s e d u p o n t h e D e f e n d a n t ’ s a l l e g e d f

a i l u r e t o e x e r c i s e

r e a s o n a b l e c a r e i n d i s c o v e r i n g t h e t r u c k ’ s d e f e c t i v e p a r k i n g s y s t e m

, c o u l d h a v e b e e n a s s e r t e d

a g a i n s t B e a m a n a t t h e t i m e t h e i n i t i a l s u i t w a s f i l e d

. B e c a u s e m o r e t h a n o n e y e a r p a s s e d

b e f o r e t h e s u i t w a s r e i n s t a t e d i n 2 0 0 9

, t h e p r o d u c t s l i a b i l i t y c l a i m b a s e d u p o n t h e n e g l i g e n c e

o f t h e s e l l e r i s b a r r e d

, n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e s u b s e q u e n t i n s o l v e n c y o f C h r y s l e r

.

(... con ti nue d) 1 7

con ta ine d in the T PLA, whic h st at es, in per ti nen t par t, tha t an act ion “must be bro ught wit hin te n (10 ) years

fr om the dat e on whic h the pro duc t was fi rs t pur cha sed for use or con sumpti on.” T enn

. Code Ann. § 29- 28-

103( a)

.

T he oth er exc ept ion s, not at is sue her e, o ccu r wh en t he a ct ion is bas ed upon exp re ss or implie d

1 8

war ra nty or the m anu fa ct ure r is not sub j ect to ser vice of pro ces s. T enn

. Code Ann. § 29- 28- 106( a) (1) –(2 ).

-14-I n s u m m a r y

, t h e p l a i n l a n g u a g e o f T e n n e s s e e C o d e A n n o t a t e d s e c t i o n 2 9

- 2 8

- 1 0 6 ( a )

e x e m p t s a s e l l e r f

r o m l i a b i l i t y a b s e n t b e i n g a f f o r d e d a “ r e a s o n a b l e o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n s p e c t t h e

p r o d u c t i n s u c h a m a n n e r w h i c h w o u l d o r s h o u l d

. . . r e v e a l t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e d e f e c t i v e

c o n d i t i o n

. ” P r o o f o f t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n s p e c t a n d t h e f a i l u r e t o e x e r c i s e r e a s o n a b l e c a r e

m a y h a v e s u b

j e c t e d t h e D e f

e n d a n t t o l i a b i l i t y i n t h e i n i t i a l s u i t

. T h u s

, t h e P l a i n t i f f ’ s c l a i m

f o r n e g l i g e n c e a g a i n s t t h e D e f e n d a n t c o u l d h a v e b e e n l i t i g a t e d i n t h e 2 0 0 7 a c t i o n

. T h e 2 0 0 9

c l a i m b a s e d u p o n t h e t h e o r y o f n e g l i g e n c e w a s

, t h e r e f o r e

, f i l e d b e y o n d t h e s a v i n g p e r i o d

, s e e

T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 8

- 1

- 1 0 5

, a n d b a r r e d b y t h e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s

. T e n n

. C o d e A n n

. § 2 8

-

3

- 1 0 4

.

C o n c l u s i o n

B e c a u s e t h e c l a i m b y t h e P l a i n t i f f a g a i n s t t h e D e f

e n d a n t u n d e r t h e t h e o r y o f s t r i c t

l i a b i l i t y d i d n o t a r i s e u n t i l t h e d e c l a r a t i o n o f C h r y s l e r ’ s i n s o l v e n c y

, t h e c l a i m w a s n o t b a r r e d

b y t h e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s

. T h e D e f e n d a n t ’ s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s w a s p r o p e r l y d e n i e d a s t o

t h e s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y c l a i m

, b u t s h o u l d h a v e b e e n g r a n t e d a s t o t h e c l a i m o f n e g l i g e n c e

. T h e

j u d g m e n t o f t h e t r i a l c o u r t i s

, t h e r e f o r e

, a f f i r m e d i n p a r t

, r e v e r s e d i n p a r t

, a n d t h e c a u s e i s

r e m a n d e d f

o r t r i a l

. C o s t s a r e a d

j u d g e d a g a i n s t t h e D e f

e n d a n t

, f o r w h i c h e x e c u t i o n m a y i s s u e

i f n e c e s s a r y

.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ G A R Y R

. W A D E

, J U S T I C E

-15-